Variable resistance capacity arrangement



MayZ, 1950 R. s. MAUTNER 25059980 VARIABLE RESISTANCE CP-CITY RRANGEMENT Filed Nov. 28, 1945 2 SheetsfSheet 1 MQ wm NN n N\ QQ Q w 'Wg QN 'RY N x Y. N l

*Q I l i@ w N QC Q; N 45 @K Q @i w @Qt Q N QR N N x i I- INVENTOR Miti/haw# w Q B Y Msg/M ATTORNEY May 2, 195@ R. s. MAUTNER VARIABLE RESISTANCE CAPACITY ARRANGEMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 28, 1945 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patentecl May 2, 1950 VARIABLE RESIS'IANCEV CAPACITY GEMENT Robert S,v Mautner, New York, N. Y., yassignor to yRadio Corporation of America, ya corporation .o f, Delaware Application November 28, 1-945, Serial-No. 631,438

6 Claims. (Cl. 1787-5144.).

1 invention relates .to a new :and useful Variable resistance capacitance `arrangement .which -maylbe applied .to an oscillator circuit.

An -ohject of this invention is to provide a-n kimproved variable resistance capacity yarrange- ,-3

mentv lwherein the frequenvy of an oscillator can be continuously varied from approximately 10o-,to 10,000 cycles, or greater, without changing circuits or eircui-tconnections and Without switching into and Jout .of circuit numerous fixed resistors. cording Ato .my invention, this is accomplished by -using a Aplurali-ty of variable condenser units haying a similar number of .helically wound variable resistors. The resistors are ganged together with the Vcondenser-s so as tobe continuously variable.

'My invention is especially useful in connection :with resistance capacity oscillators wherein frequency vis var-led hy simultaneously changing the capacity of a plurality of gangeol vcondensers. As

the ,condensers are normally varied from mini-I aquency is .generally varied from a rst range .of

Ztl-to 200 vcycles per second- Then a switch is thrown to cover a second range v'from 200 to 2,000 cycles per second, a Athird range from 2,000 to licycles, and a fourth range from 10,000 .to 20,-000/cycles. The disadvantage of having to stop :and throw a switch, then return the .dial back .to the lower end of the scale veach vtime `achange in nequency range is desired, is onereascn why a bea-t .frequency oscillator covering -arange from 20,5to `16,000 cycles per second is frequently employed since it will `provide a smooth lgradual .change -of frequency without any |abrupt transition when a change of frequency is required. A :beat frequency oscillator, however, is expensive to manufacture and, furthermore, has a disadvantage in that the frequency tends to dr' t from a set frequency. By my invention, a smooth gradual change of constant frequency can `be obtained AWithout Athe 4need of throwing switches and returning-the dial back to the lower end of the scale. This lis accomplished by using helical `Wol-md resista-nce units which are associated with amech-an-ism for permitting severalgrotaiions of the 'variable resistance shafts to one-half a revolotion .of the `condensershaft. By this errar-leef 2 ment, itis feasibleto obtaina v to l ratio .o better in frequency coverage. .Such a resistance capacity oscillator may, for example, cover from 100 v,to :10,1000 cycles :or more in .one `dial variation withoutgafbreak ,or interruption .in the dial .shaft rotation.

Ilhis invention Will be. vmore,specifically =de .scribed with the aid of l.the accompanying `drawing wherein:

Eig. v1 is a plan view ofrthe .combinedfcondenser and resistance arrangement of mynvention,

Fig. 2 is a front elevation partly in section which is taken on line 2-2'of Fig. l, .and

Fig. 3 is a circuit diagram of a resistance capacity. oscillator .employing ,the .arrangement shown in Figs. land 2.

rReferring now indetail to Figs. ,1 and 12 off the drawing, a 'mounting disc l has located thereon an .aperture IA for the bpassage of a dial shaft 2 which is .of insulation material and of hollow construction. The shaft 2 carries three groups of condenser plates, 3A, 3B and 3C. Each group consists of a plurality of movable condenser plates which are arranged in spacedpar-allel relationship on a metallic tube Whichris secured to shaft 2. Three groups of xed condenserplates 4A, `4B and dCware arranged on insulation strips 4,V t0 mesh witheach group of the'variable plates. The fixed plates are connected together by a lmetallic member23. A connection 24 is made from each group of fixed fplates. A spring strip 25 is provided to make connection from each group vof rotor plates ywhich connects member 3to a terminal lstrip 25.5..

'Located -eoncentrically within shaft 2 is a long Ametal shaft 5 having located thereon three groups of insulating drums 6 each 'having means for malging :contact with helically wound resistance units 22A, 22B and 22C which vunits are secured to the rear condenser unit 3Cvby a'pair of support strips 5A arranged on the rear of strips 4. Each resistance yunit is located within an insulating 'housing-2l. Theresistance units are electrically `insulated from Ishaft by the drum 5 hav-ing -a longitudinal slot 6A. `The-resistance units are mechanically Acoupled .together .byV shaft 5 which carries drum 6,. Each resistance unit has a sliding and movable contact arm 1 of insulating material. A A 3-sha-ped spring contact 'lA has abent contact portion which is arranged to--ride in 'a `Slot :'lBpon the arm i' so as to be in movable contact. withthe insidepor-tion .of a helically-.wound resistance wire ;8. The insulating contact armfs'l rides in slot 6A of drum 6. The upper portionof arm vl l.has located-thereon sideguide members 'IF fforengageing :both sides. of the helical resistis approximately 400 micromicrofarads.

ance wire 8 which causes the arm to move upon rotation of shaft 5. A longitudinal connection strip 'IC furnishes a sliding contact with spring 1A. A collector ring 'ID is secured to the end of drum 6 and is connected to strap 'IC. A brush IE makes contact with ring 1D. The terminal connection is made from each resistance unit to brush 1E; The variable condensershaft 2 is fastened by a set screw 2A to a bearing disc 2B. The disc 2B is directly connected to a movable dial 9 by screws 9A located in the front of the panel. The shaft 5 is shown by Fig. 2 as being connected to a small pinion gear Il! located within the dial 9. The pinion gear I meshes with a planetary gear I I having a shaft I IA which has a bearing in disc 2B. The latter gear is arranged to mesh with an internal gear I2 which is located 4within and secured to the outer portion of dial 9. The ratio of the gears is such as to rot-ate shaft approximately twenty turns for one turn of the dial 9, or if desired ten turns rotation of shaft 5 for onehalfv turn of shaft 2.v

With this arrangement, the frequency is varied Aby ganging the condenser groups 3 together for simultaneous rotation with the three groups of resistance units. The planetary gearing system provides a greater rate of change for the movable lresistance contactsarms I than that of the rotor condenser shaft 2.

The frequency of this arrangement is given by the formula when Ri=R2=R3=R and Ci=Cz=C3=C'. The condensers can normally be varied from min- ;imum to maximum over a to 1 ratio change, and the resistors 10 to 1 or greater. The fre- 'quency of the oscillator can be varied without the necessity of throwing a switch and then returning the dial back to the lower end of the scale. The condenserplates are not semi-circular, but are of a special shape to give approximately a straight line frequency variation within a frequency range of 100 to 10,000 cycles per second. The capacity of each group of condensers The re- Qfsistance of each helical variable resistor is approximately 2 megohms.

' `The circuit diagram of a typical resistance capacitance oscillator which may employ the device of my invention is shown in Fig. 3. In addition Yto the capacitive and resistance elements shown within the block outline indicated by the broken line 40, electrontubes 4I and 42 are provided.

Vffhe plate 59 of tube 4I lhas a resistance 43, one end of which is connected to the positive side of n, the plate supply 44. The plate 6I of tube 52 connects directly to positive plate potential 44. 'One of the output leads 41 connects to the cathode 60-of tube 42 having a resistance 48which fis connected to ground at 49, the other output .terminal being connected to ground at 50. The suppressor grid 5I connects to cathode 52 which is bypassed to ground through a condenser 52A Vand resistance 53. A screen grid dropping resistance 54 connects from the screen grid 55V to ...the positive plate potential 44. A condenser 56 bypasses screen grid 55 to ground. The control grid 51 is` connected to condenser 3C. and resistance 22C. The control grid 58 connects to plate 1.59 of tube 4|'.

The improved frequency varying system of this `/invention' maylbeused in- ,circuits other than v 4 that of the resistance capacitance oscillator disclosed above.

What is claimed is:

1. A frequency varying system comprising a plurality of groups of spaced rotor and stator capacitance elements, an operating knob, a ring gear secured to and located within said knob, a. disc located within and secured to said knob, a hollow shaft for mounting the rotor elements of each group, said hollow shaft arranged for rotation with said disc, an intermediate gear mounted for rotation on said disc and arranged to mesh with said ring gear, a plurality of spaced resistance'elements each having a variable tap, a rotatable shaft concentrically arranged to rotate within and project beyond said hollow shaft, a pinion gear secured to that end of said rotatable shaft located within the knob, said pinion gear arranged to mesh with said intermediate gear each one of said variable taps being insulatingly secured to said rotatable shaft at the portion which projects beyond said hollow shaft, and means including said gears coupled together to rotate said hollow shaft at a different rate of change than said second mentioned shaft whereby each group of capacitance and resistance elements are varied together.

2. A frequency varying system comprising a plurality of groups of spaced rotor and stator capacitance elements, an operating knob, a ring gear secured to and located within said knob, a disc located within and secured to said knob, a hollow shaft of insulating material for mounting the rotor elements of each group, said hollow shaft arranged for rotation with said disc, an intermediate gear mounted for rotation on said disc and arranged to mesh with said ring gear, a plurality of spaced resistance elements each having a variable tap, a rotatable shaft concentrically arranged to rotate within and project beyond said hollow shaft of insulating material, a pinion gear secured to that end of said rotatable shaft located within the knob, said pinion gear arranged to mesh with said intermediate gear, each one of said variable taps being insulatingly secured to said rotatable shaft at the portion which projects beyond said hollow shaft, and means including said gears coupled together to rotate said hollow shaft at a slower rate of change than said second mentioned shaft, whereby all groups of capacitanceV and resistance elements are varied together.

3. A resistance capacitance device comprising a plurality of groups of spaced rotor and stator capacitance elements, a hollow operating knob, a train of gears including a ring gear secured-to and located within said knob, a pinion gear and an intermediate gear, a disc located adjacent said ring gear and secured to said knob for rotation therewith, said intermediate gear mounted for rotation on said disc and arranged to mesh.

with said ring gear, a hollow shaft of insulating material arranged to support the rotor elements of each group of capacitive elements, said hollow shaft arranged for rotation with said disc, a plurality of spaced resistance elements each having a variable tap, a rotatable shaft concentrically arranged to rotate within and project beyond said hollow shaft, said pinion gear secured for rotation with said second mentioned shaft and arranged to mesh with said intermediate gear, each one of said variable taps being insulatingly secured to said rotatable shaft at the portion which projects beyond said hollow shaft, and means including said train of gears to Arotate the hollow shaft at a different rate of change than that of said second mentioned shaft, whereby each group of capacitance and resistance elements are all varied together.

4. A variable resistance capacitance arrangement comprising three groups of spaced rotor and stator capacitance elements, a hollow opm erating knob, a system of gears including a ring gear secured to and located within said knob, a pinion gear and an intermediate gear, a disc located adjacent said ring gear and secured to said knob, said intermediate gear mounted for rotation on said disc and arranged to mesh with said ring gear a hollow shaft of insulating material, each group of rotor elements being mounted for rotation on said hollow shaft, said hollow shaft arranged for rotation with said disc, three groups of spaced resistance elements each having a variable tap, a rotatable shaft concentrically arranged to rotate within and project beyond said hollow shaft, each one of said variable taps being insulatingly secured to said rotatable shaft at the portion which projects beyond said hollow shaft, said pinion gear secured for rotation with said second mentioned shaft w and arranged to mesh with said intermediate gear, and means including said rotatable knob and said system of gears located within said rotatable knob to rotate the hollow shaft at a different rate of change than that of said second mentioned shaft, whereby each group of capacitance and resistance elements are all varied together.

5. A frequency varying system comprising a plurality of groups of spaced rotor and stator capacitance elements, a hollow operating knob, a train of gears including a ring gear secured to and located within said knob, a pinion gear and an intermediate gear, a disc located adjacent said ring gear and secured to said knob, said intermediate gear mounted for rotation on said disc and arranged to mesh with said ring gear, a hollow rotatable shaft of insulating material, the rotor element of each group of capacitive elements being mounted for rotation upon said hollow shaft, said hollow shaft arranged for rotation with said disc, a plurality of helically wound spaced resistance elements each having a variable tap for making contact with the helically wound resistance, a rotatable shaft concentrically arranged to rotate within and project beyond said hollow shaft, said pinion gear secured for rotation with said second mentioned shaft and arranged to mesh with said intermediate gear, each one of said variable taps being insulatingly secured to said rotatable shaft at the portion which projects beyond said hollow shaft, and

means including said train of gears to rotate the hollow shaft at a slower rate of change than said second mentioned shaft, whereby all groups of capacitance and resistance elements are varied 6. A frequency varying system comprising a plurality of groups of spaced rotor and stator capacitance elements, a hollow operat ing knob, a train of gears including a ring gear secured to and located within said knob, a pinion gear and an intermediate gear, a disc located adjacent said ring gear and secured to said knob, said intermediate gear mounted for rotation with said disc and arranged to mesh with said ring gear, a hollow rotatable shaft of insulating material, the rotor element of each group of capacitive elements being mounted for rotation upon said hollow shaft, said hollow shaft arranged for rotation with said disc, a plurality of helically wound spaced resistance elements each having a variable tap for ma ing contact with the helioally wound resistance, a rotatable shaft concentrically arranged to rotate within and project beyond said hollow shaft, said pinion gear secured for rotation with. said second mentioned shaft and arranged to mesh with said intermediate gear, each one of said variable taps being insulatingly secured to said rotatable shaft at the portion which projects beyond said hollow shaft, and means including said train of gears to rotate the hollow shaft at a slower rate of change than said second mentioned shaft, whereby a onehalf turn of the hollow shaft rotates approximately ten turns for the last mentioned shaft to vary the rate of change for the capacitance elements at a slower rate than the variation of the resistance elements.

ROBERT S. MAUTNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record ln the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,466,293 Brooks Aug. 28, 1923 1,577,613 Dunmore Mar. 23, 1926 1,613,423 Wegel Jan. 4, 1927 1,622,783 Heyman Mar. 29, 1927 1,625,094 Reppert Apr. 19, 1927 2,072,240 Zigler Mar. 2, 1937 2,185,870 Smith Jan. 2, 1940 2,228,638 Mercier Jan. 14, 1941 2,236,985 Bartelink Apr. 1, 1941 2,371,159 Erb Mar. 13, 1945 2,398,112 OBrien Apr. 9, 1946 

